Method of and machine for stranding special or figured wires



F. FESSL 1. 1,818,845

11111111011 OF AND 111101111111 FOR 51111111011111 sizcnfbirmunub WIRES Aug. 11, 1931.

Filed Dec. 5. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet J.

Aug. 11,1931. F. FESSL 1,818,845 7 IIETHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR STRANDING SPECIAL OR FIGUREDWIRES Filed Dec. 5. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS illa W Aug. 11, 1931. F. FESSL 1,813,845

IETHOD OF AND MACI'IINE F STRANDING SPECIAL OR FIGURE!) WIRES Filed Dec/5. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 3 a w, 7 A I Patented Au 11,1931

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE FERDINAND FEs'sL, or VIENNA, Ausrnm, assrenoa 1 o FELTEN a GUILLEAUME FABRIK ELEKTRISGHEB KABEL-S'IAHL- UND KUPFERWERKE AKTIENGESELL- SCHAFT, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA, A COMPANY OF AUSTRIA. I

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FORSTRANDING SPECIAL OR FIGURE!) WIRES .lpplicatien filed December 5, 1929, Serial- 110. 411,886, and in Austria December), 1928.

. manufacture of heavy wire ropes, cables and cable coverings. I r

The object ofthe present invention 1s to provide a stranding method and a stranding machine whereby the untwisting and -un-- ravelling of the wire ropes and the like is prevented with certainty. The present method is very simple and reliable-and the machine for carryingthe method into practice is-likewise very s1mple in" construction and reliable in operation.

Any existing stranding machine suitable for. stranding wires such as above referred to may be. readily adapted for carrying out the improved method.

of the For facilitatin the understandin invention first t e machine and t en the method will'be described with reference to the machine. I

In the annexed drawings embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example and v in part diagrammatically.

: Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a wire rope provided with a covering of stranded wires S or Z shaped in transversesection. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the parts of the improved stranding machine which are essential for the present invention. Fig. '3 is a front elevation of one of the rings ,supporting the guiding element. Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevations of guiding discs. Figs. 6, 7, 8 show diagrammatically in side elevation, plan view and front elevation respectively an individual wire to be stranded on 7 its way from the guiding device to the stranding die.

Figs. 9, 10,.and 11 illustrate on a larger scale the actual distortion of a wire while passing through the stranding die; Fig. 12 shows a simple iding disc for the wires to be stranded; 1g. 13 is a diagrammatical front elevation of a slightly modified guiding disc.

In the following description itrwill be assaid notches. The strandin sumed, that around a core 1, Fig. 1 of a wire rope ,a layeror coverm of steel wlres' 2 has to be wound suchlayer eing composed of wires of a comparatively large 8 or Z shaped transverse section closely wound around the core and interlocking withieach other in the usual manner.

As shown in Fig. 2 the essential parts of the machine according to the present invention are two parallel discs 3, 4 perpendicular to the was of the core of the wire rope.

and provided with notches 5 and'6 respec tively at their peripheries for guiding the wires 2 to be stranded to the stranding die 7.

At least the notches 5 in the disc 3 are so shaped that they snugly enclose the trans verse section of the wires 2, so that these wires cannot turn around their axes in the die 7 is mounted in a third disc 8 which 1s parallel to the discs3 and 4, The disc 8 is held in position by screw threaded rods 9 secured to the stranding cage 10 of. any suitable-or preferred construction. The rods 9 are parallel to the axis of the core 1 and carry rings 11, 12 located in planes perpendicular to theaxis of the core. Within the ring 11 the disc 3 and within the ring 12 the disc 4 is detach ably secured in any suitable or preferred manner.

=Moreover in order to enable the discs 3, 4:

to be turned relatively to each other in their respective parallel planes the rings 11, 12

are'provided with segmental openings 14,-

Fig. 3 through which ass the rods 9. The

discs 3, 4 with the note es 5, 6 constitute the guiding device for the wires.

For bringing the machine into operating condition, first the core 1 is brought into' operating position and introduced into the stranding die. ,Furthermore the required number of wires 2, S shaped in transverse section is drawn from the stranding cage through the notches 5 and 6 of the guiding device and introduced into the stranding die. The operation of the machine constituting the method according to the present invention may now be described as follows:

Assuming at first that the notches 5, 6 of the guide discs 3 and 4 respectively through which passes an individual wire 2, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 8 are in one plane with the axis of the core 1. For the sake of simplicity the wire 2 is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 as being rectangular in transverse section. Owing to the revolution ofthe stranding cage in the direction of the arrow, the notches 5 and 6 for the individual wire 2, which wire, at a given moment occup ies a-position on the coreas indicated in ig.- 8, will have arrived at the same mo-' ment in a position shown in Fig. 8, in which positionthe angle 1- is formed between two planes the first of which is defined on one.

and by the axis of the core and on the other hand by the main axis of the cross section of the wire 2 at the point where it leaves the notch, the other plane being defined on one hand -by the axis ofthe core and on the other handby the main axis of the cross section of the wire 2 at the point where the said wire comes in contact with the core. Fig. 7 shows in plan. view and Fig. 6 shows in side elevation the position of the parts shdwn in Fig. 8. .It will be seen that the wire'is fed to the stranding die at an angle to the axis of the stranding die, which is hereinafter called the feeding angle.

Theproi'ection of the said feeding angle on a radia plane of the stranding die passing through the point at .which the wire enters the said strandin die. 5 is the ro-' jection of a feeding ang e on a radial p ane of the stranding die being perpendicular to the first plane. For simplifying'means the possible the resistance of the rope in the stranding die during stranding and to avoid at the same time any detrimental action on the wires to be stranded caused by the heavy friction and intense heating due to such resistance and on the other hand to make the distortion of the wire 2 at the receiving end of the.

stranding die as slight as possible, since it was believed that this distortionis v'ery obj ectionable although this question had not' yet been thoroughly studied.

Now according to the present invention the feeding angle is made considerably greater by increasing at least one of these angles a and ,8. While this results in a. very marked increase of the resistance in the stranding die and hence also the heating but the, wires to be stranded are not appreciably affected, as regards their essential mechanical properties. The great and ,de-

cisive advantage due to the increase of the feeding angle consists, as has been ascertained by careful investigation, in the intense distortion of-the wire 2 during the beginning of its passage through the stranding die. This intense distortion is not at all detrimental but on the contrary very ad-' vantageous since owing to the same the wire 2 ac uires a continuous curvature and torsion y which any tendency of the wire to untwist or unravel is efliciently counteracted and eliminated. effect due to the increase of the angle may possibly be explained as follows:

WVhen an individual wire enters the cylindrical part of the strandin die 2 it finds itself clamped between the inner surfacebf the stranding die 7 the outer surface of the core, 1 and the neighbouring wires 2 and at the same time this wire is sharply bent owmg to the great feeding angle, as is clearly shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 in which '15 indicates the point at which the wire 2 enters the cylindrical partof the stranding die and engages with the neighbouring wires.

Fig. 11 shows a wire s-shaped in transverse section as projected on a plane parallel to its outer flange in the point 15. This wire was taken from a rope actually made according. to the present invention which rope did not show any tendency to untwist This new and sur rising ceding" or unravel. Fig. 10 shows the same" wire] in the same projection as strande'dvand in engagement with the neighbouring wires,

the stranding die beingshown in longitudinal section. Fig. 9 shows the same wire as pro ected on a; plane parallel to .the web of this wire in the point 15.

wire shows a .markedv bend in its plane. Owing to this bend the individual fibres of transverse section are stretched to a different v At this polnt 15 the outer flange of the extent so that at least some of the said fibres will bev stretched beyond the limit of elasticlty and if this-is properly done the wire acquires that permanent distortion and curvature which is necessary for each individual wire if the untwisting and unravelling of the rope has to beavoided.

The extent of stretching of the various;

fibres of the wire in'the point 15 depends on the absolute value of the feeding angle and on the proportion of its projections, oz and ,8 that is to say of its radial Ianiia tangential components respectively. ,"Themost suitable value of these angles depends of course on i the tensile? strength elasticity of the wires 2 'and also on the size and shape of their transverse section.

Therefore no definite rules for determining these angles can be given, they must be determined by experiment.

For this purpose the stranding die 7 is axially adjustable together with the disc 8 relatively to the disc 4 as above described most cases it will be necessary to; adjust theangle B independentlyeof the angle. Therefore the disc 4 must adjustable relatively to the stranding die? by turningit around the axis of said stranding die. This may be facilitated by means of the vse mental slots 14 in the ring 12. The locking in position is effected by means of the nuts 13 on the screw threaded rods 9 as above described.

A further possibilit of varying the angle B consists in that the discs?) and 4 are adapted to be turned relatively toone another around the axis of the stranding die by means of the said segmental slots 14 in the rings 11 and 12 whereupon the rings may be locked in position by the said nuts. Another way of arriving at this result is to incline the notches in the disc 4 at an angle to the associated 'generatrices of the beveled ed e of the disc, provided the notches snugly fit the transverse section of the wire. This is shown in Fig. 12 in which v indicates the projection of the angle v. The edges of the notches are preferably rounded off .for avoiding excessive friction and wear of the Wires 2.

In some cases it will be advisable to impart independently of the angle [5 a torsion to the wire 2 which may be than that corresponding to t e an le '1' in Fig. 8. This may be accomplished by making the notches 5 in the disc 3 or the notches 6 in the disc 4, provided the latter notches snugly fit the wire, inclined to their corresponding radii as shown in Fig.- 13.

The discs 3 and 4 are detachably secured to the rings 11 and 12 respectively and may be readily removed and replaced by others having notches differing in number or size and shape as circumstances may require. In some cases the disc 3 and the ring 11 of Fig. 2 may be dispensed with. In this case-the notches 6 in the disc 4- must closely fit; the transverse section of the wires. In this case the possibilities of ad'ustment of the various parts are reduced,- ut nevertheless perfectly satisfactory results may be obtained inmany cases, but in this casetoo the disc 4-and stranding die 7 must be adjustable axially relative y to one another.

\Vhat I claim is: 1. A method of stranding non-circular wires to form a cylindrical layer compris reater or less ing the ste of feeding the wires into the stranding 'e at an angle greater than the stranding angle, the radial and the tangential componentsofthe angle being such that the wires on entering the stranding die undergo a distortion beyond the limits of elasticity whereby any tendency of the wires to untwist or unravel from their stranded position is .at least partly eliminated.

2. A stranding machlne comprising a feeding device having guiding notches for the Wires to be stranded, a stranding die coaxial with such feeding device, and means a for adjusting the guiding device and the stranding die relatively to each other axially as well as by turning them relatively to each other around their common axis for feeding the wires to the stranding die at a feeding angle greater than the stranding angle, the projection of the said feeding angle on two radlal planes of the stranding die, the first passing through the point at which'the wire enters the said stranding die and the second being'perpendicular to the first, the two projections of said feeding angle being such that the wires on entering the stranding die undergo a distortion beyond the limit of elasticity whereby any tendency of the wires to untwist or unravel from their stranded position is at least partly eliminated.

3. A stranding machine comprising a feeding device having 'ding notches for the wires to be strande such notches being inclined tangentially to the axis of the said feeding device, a stranding die coaxial with such feeding device, and means for adjustof the stranding die, the first'passing through the point at which the wire enters the said stranding die and the second being perpendicular to the first, the two projections of said feeding angle being such that the wires on entering the stranding die undergo a distortion beyond the limit of elasticity where by any tendency of the wires to untwist or unravel from their stranded position is at least partly eliminated.

4. A stranding machine comprising a feeding device having guiding notches for the wires to be stranded, such notchesbeing inclined tangentially to the axis of the said feeding device and snugly fitting the trans-- verse section of the wire to be stranded, the

main axis of each of such notches being inclined to the corresponding radius of the guid ng device, a stranding die coaxial to such feeding devlce, and means for adjusting the guiding device andthe stranding die relatively to each other axially as well as by Ill turning them relatively to each other around their common axis for feeding the wire to the stranding die 'at afecding angle greater than the stranding angle, the projections of 5 the said feeding angle on two radial planes of the stranding die, the first passing through the point at which the wire enters the said stranding die and the second being perpendicular to the first, the two projec- 19 tions of said feeding angle being such that v position is at least partly eliminated.

5. A stranding machine comprising a guiding device provided with two parallel coaxial guiding discs, each provided with guiding notches for guiding the wire to be 20 stranded, a stranding die coaxial with the said guiding discs, and means for adjusting the said guiding discs and the stranding die relatively to each other axially as well-as by turning them relatively to each other around their common axis for feeding the wires to the stranding die at a feeding angle greater than the stranding angle, the projections of the said feeding angle on two radial planes of the stranding die, the first passing through the point at which the wire enters the said stranding die, and the second being perpendicular to the first, the two projectionsof said feeding angle being such that 'the wires on. entering the stranding die undergo a distortion beyond the limit of elasticity whereby any tendency of the wires to untwist or unravel from'their stranded position is at least partly eliminated.

6. A stranding machine comprising a 40 guiding device provided with two parallel coaxial guiding discs, each provided with guiding notches for guiding the wires to be stranded, means for adjusting such discs axially as well as by turning them relatively to each other around their common axis,

a stranding die coaxial with the said guiding discs, and means for adjusting the said guiding discs and the stranding die relatively to each other, axially as well as lb turning them relatively to each other around their common axis for feeding the wires to the stranding die at a feeding angle greater than the stranding angle, the projection of the said feeding angle. on two radial '55 planes'ofth e stranding die the first passing through the point at which-the- 'wire enters the said stranding die and the second being perpendicular tothe first, the two projections of said feeding angle being such that the wires on entering the stranding die undergo a distortion beyond the limit of elasticity whereby any tendency of the wires to untwist or unravel from their stranded position is at least partly eliminated.

7. A stranding machine comprising a stranding cage, a guiding device provided with two parallel coaxial guiding discs, each provided with guiding notches for guiding the wires to be stranded, means for adjusting such discs axially as well as by turning them. relatively to each othcr arouml their common axis, such means comprising two rings coaxial with the stranding die, said rings, having openings near their peripheries, such openings being segment-shaped in at least one of the said rings, each of the said rings having a central opening, means for securing each of the. said guide discs in the central opening of one of the said rings, screw threaded rods, secured to.the stranding cage and passing through the opening near the periphery of the said rings, nuts screwed onto thesaid ,screw threaded rods and adapted to lock the said rings in position, a stranding die coaxial with the said guiding discs, and means for adjusting the said guiding discs and the stranding die relatively to each other axially as well as by turning them relatively to each other around their common axis for feeding the wires to the stranding die at a feeding angle greater than the stranding angle, the projections of the said feeding angle on two radial planes of the stranding die, the first passing through the point at which the wire enters the said stranding die, and the second being pcrpemlicular to the first, the two projections of said feeding angle being such that the wires onentering the stranding die undergo a distortion beyond the limit of elasticity, whereby any tendency'o't the wires to untwist or unravel from their stranded position is at least-partly eliminated.

8. A stranding machine comprising a stranding cage, a guiding device provided with two parallel coaxial guiding discs, each provided with notches for guiding thewires' to be stranded, a stranding die coaxial with the said guiding discs, and means for ad]ust- .ing the said guiding discs and the stranding die relatively to each other axially as well. as by turning them relatively to each other around their common axis for feeding the wires to the stranding die at a feeding angle greater than the stranding angle, the projections of the said feeding angle on two radial planes of the/stranding die, the first passing through the point at which the wire enters the said stranding die andthe' second being perpendicular tothe first, the two projections of said feeding angle being such that the wires on entering the stranding die undergo a distortion beyond the limit of elasticity whereby any tendency of the Wires to untwist or unravel from their stranded position is at least partly eliminated, the said adjusting means for the guiding discs and the strandingdie comprising two rings coaxial with the stranding die, said rings having openings near their peripheries, such openings being segmentsha ed in at least one of said rings, each of sai rings ha vin r a central opening, means .for securing eaci of the said guide discs in the central opening of one of the said rings, a disc,'means for securing the stranding die to the said disc, the last named disc having openings near its periphery, screw threaded rods secured to the stranding cage and passing through the openings near the periphery of the said rings and the strandmg die disc,.and nuts screwed onto the said screw threaded rods and adapted to lock the said rings and the last named stranding die disc in position.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. FERDINAND FESSL. 

